divertissement (2009-08-19)

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciation: [di vʉrt′is mənt; Fr dē ver tēs män′]

Definition: (1) A diversion; amusement (2) A short ballet, etc. performed between the acts of a play or opera; entr'acte

Usage: "These sciences were always a divertissement in the sense in which Pascal used the word; but what is their function in a society living under the motto lunam et circenses?" - Erwin Chargaff

Suggested Usage: (1) "One reason we lasted so long is that we usually played two people who were very much in love. As we were realistic actors, we became those two people. So we had a divertissement: I had an affair with him, and he with me." - Lynn Fontanne (2) "Art is part of an ever-expanding leisure industry, geared towards entertainment and divertissement of the public, the masses, us." - Mrs. Deane

Etymology: French: see divert.